The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) has launched an initiative to involve religious leaders in addressing the challenges of stigma and discrimination related to various diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
Charles Sserwanja, the Head of Public Health and Social Services at IRCU, has stated that the campaign aims to empower religious leaders from different denominations to directly address issues related to HIV/AIDS and other illnesses within their congregations.
The campaign’s objectives include providing religious leaders with the necessary knowledge and skills for early disease detection and connecting them with qualified professionals who can offer timely counseling and psychosocial support to affected individuals. This effort also seeks to dispel misconceptions related to the use of “spiritual healing” for diseases, as these beliefs can worsen health outcomes for those affected.
Sserwanja is optimistic that the campaign will offer vital psychological support to adolescents born with HIV, helping them adhere to treatment and prevent transmission to their peers.
The involvement of religious leaders is expected to encourage healthy living within communities.
Aida Nakanjako, the HIV, Health, and Development Coordinator at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Uganda, emphasized the significant role that religious leaders can play in combating various diseases, including non-communicable illnesses and drug abuse among youth. She urged religious leaders to address these issues and mentor young people toward responsible citizenship.
Reverend Sister Esther Nakakande, a Health Assistant at the Daughters of Mary Congregation in the Masaka diocese, suggested that IRCU should establish collaboration between government health facilities and religious leaders.
This partnership could facilitate the delivery of coordinated health messages to communities, contributing to public health promotion campaigns